Norman, Okla.  Start with a 33-3 college basketball team. Subtract two NBA lottery picks, Cole Aldrich and Xavier Henry, plus the team’s leading scorer, Sherron Collins, who also made his way onto an NBA roster for a few months.

Now subtract Josh Selby, the highest-rated recruit of coach Bill Self’s career, for nine games at the start of the season because of an NCAA-imposed suspension. Another guard, Elijah Johnson, joined him in street clothes for the first two games, serving a suspension for violating an unspecified team rule.

Next, Mario Little’s status with the team became uncertain after his arrest in the middle of the night, which led to a six-game suspension.

Then, in rapid succession, Thomas Robinson, the team’s energizer, buried two grandparents and his mother, leaving him worried about his 7-year-old sister back in Washington, D.C. Between trips back home and arthroscopic surgery on his right knee for a torn meniscus, he missed five games.

Swing man Travis Releford developed into a valuable reserve and was playing easily the best basketball of his career when he went down because of an ankle injury. He missed five games and hasn’t performed to pre-injury level since.

Selby appeared on the verge of improvement when he suffered a foot injury that cost him three games and caused his game and confidence to regress.

The latest roster hit came when Tyshawn Taylor violated an unspecified team rule that earned him an indefinite suspension that likely is on the verge of ending after two games.

A musical-chairs roster normally equates to uneven team chemistry and choppy on-court performances, an underachieving season.

Not so for this Kansas basketball team. Saturday’s visit to the Noble Center to take on talent-short Oklahoma started with Johnson handling the point, but he was unavailable for the final 14:55 after suffering a neck injury his coach said won’t keep him out of the lineup again. Lose a body, gain a victory, leave the opposing coach raving about the team’s remarkable offensive efficiency. Typical day.

At Saturday’s end, the Jayhawks had an 82-70 victory, a 27-2 record and a two-year record of 60-5. How in the world have they done that with constantly changing player availability?

Marcus Morris, the team’s best player and therefore the last guy who has to worry about buttering up the coach, fielded the question and then did what he always does. He spoke from the heart. He’s as honest an interview as you’ll find in today’s careful world.

“It’s got to be the coaches,” Morris said. “We had three NBA players leave us last year, and nobody really gave us much of a chance. Kansas State was No. 1 in the conference because of all our (personnel) losses.”

That’s the way the Big 12 coaches saw it, ranking the Wildcats No. 1 in the preseason poll. K-State’s playing much better now and still has a chance to finish fourth. Kansas moved into a tie with Texas for first in the Big 12 with two games remaining.

“It all comes down to coaching,” Marcus continued. “Coach Self is just a great coach. The coaching staff is one in a million to me. Having D. (Danny) Manning coaching us every practice, giving you insight on what move you should make and what move you should get to, you definitely have to cherish that because it isn’t going to happen all the time.”

He’s right about the coaching staff playing a huge role in the remarkable run of success. If KU can hold onto its share of first in the Big 12, that would make seven in succession. Self is the constant presence. He has kept Kansas at the top with rotating stars, ranging from Wayne Simien, Keith Langford and Aaron Miles to Brandon Rush, Mario Chalmers and Julian Wright to Darrell Arthur, Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich, to this year’s juggernaut.

To some extent, a coach is only as good as the coachability of his players. The four players who haven’t missed a game because of injury or suspension this season rank extremely high in that area. Two role players from Kansas. Two stars from Philadelphia. Two seniors. Two juniors. Four players blessed with terrific instincts for what to do with the basketball when it’s in their hands.

Brady Morningstar and Tyrel Reed never struggle with illusions about the best place for the basketball to end up, which of course is in the hands of either Marcus or Markieff Morris. Nearly as important, both guards have no hesitation about shooting when the defense makes that possible. All four players have an innate understanding that when passed as soon as it’s caught, the basketball travels faster than humans, which leaves the defense forever trying to catch up. Kansas spaces the floor so well and passes it so quickly it gets high-percentage shots from confident scorers. Opposing coaches marvel.

Oklahoma coach Jeff Capel became just the latest in a string of Big 12 coaches coming off a loss calling Kansas, “incredibly efficient on the offensive end.” They say without saying it what everybody knows. KU isn’t as good defensively, either on the perimeter or in the post, as offensively. Every team is different. Self has had better defensive teams than this one. He’s never had one that moved the ball any better than it did in Saturday’s first half.

It’s a tough call as to whether this team can get enough defensive stops at crucial times to make it to the Final Four. Oklahoma, for example, scored on eight consecutive possessions in the last half of the second half Saturday.

This much we do know: Posting a .923 winning percentage the past two seasons with such a revolving personnel door blows the mind.

Comments

Have to agree with the offensive flow re: great coaching For the most part it's a beautiful thing to watch. Everybody commenting on the games I've been able to see has agreed.

But.... If we don't start slamming the door in some faces heading to the hoop, we're going to be heading home a lot earlier than we'd like. A Final Four is still possible, but not as likely without some sticky D. Time to strap on the chompers, guys, the Madness is about to begin for real!!

Jayhawks score 45 points, shooting over 70% in the first half; outrebound the opposition 35 to 16 for the game. How in the holy heck do we not win this game by 30 points? This squad has to be keeping their own and opposing coaches in a constant state of amazement coupled with befuddlement! Almost bi-polar performances in every 40 minutes of action. Yet, what a terrific season record for a team which very few Big 12 coaches and analysts predicted to be a mainline contender for league and national championships.

I think Taylor comes back with some real focus. That is a key to making us a much better team. He seemed to completely loose his focus of late. I hope he is making the changes necessary and is back soon. Is there any way to keep Manning in Lawrence? He is still my all-time favorite Jayhawk. Danny and the Miracles is still the greatest story in basketball.

Danny has the best job in the world, living in a town and working in a program that idolize him. He doesn't need the fame and fortune that come with a head coaching position, nor does he need the headaches, hassles, frustrations, and attention that go along with it. He widely gets credit for much of the success of our big men and seems happy working with Self. I think he'll be with us for awhile.

Just out of curiousity has his name every been mentioned as a Head Coach? I'd be curious, because I would imagine that KU's assistant coaches make more than probably 50% of the Head Coaching positions out there. I doubt his motiviation is money at this point, but I agree with someone's thoughts that he could be governor of Kansas and the only person that could give him a run for his money is Bill Self.

The reason we didn't win by thirty was because the second half turned into a free throw shooting contest. One of the announcers said there was a combined 48 free throws in the second half. That is a killer to our offense because our offense is about rhythm and flow...but the refs controlled the second half and Cade Davis got every and one under the sun! Not blaming the refs but when two teams shoot 48 free throws in one half there is something not right!

Definitely agree with that. However, the number of free throws Cade Davis shot can be blamed squarely on our defense. We didn't move our feet very well in the second half and let Davis -- not the quickest guy in the gym -- consistently get to the lane. That's been a continuous problem for us most of the year (allowing guards to penetrate seemingly at will). Don't think it's going to change at this point; I just hope it's not too big of a liability as we enter the tournament....

That is our greatest weakness, LA. Dribble penetration. And if we meet just about any Big East team, they are going to either light us up or get us into huge foul trouble. We weren't great with it last year either, but at least having Cole on the help D covered a lot of mistakes. Huge worries about our viability in the Tourney without consistent on-ball defense.

During one of OU's possession, I recall KU holding the Sooners for like 33 seconds and suddenly there was a lapse which led to OU scoring with about one or two seconds left. This has occured in other games as well. Focusing for 35 seconds is a challenge that the Hawks must take on as it improves its ability to shut down the opponent on defense.

We switched on a ball screen at the top of the circle and they immediately got the ball to their big with our guard defending him - hardly what I would consider a lapse - but disappointing none the less

Nice article. I can see this team winning it all or being bounced in the second round of the tournament. Winning the title isn't so much about team depth or coaching as it is hitting shots, staying focused and making stops in disjointed four minute stretches. We can do it obviously, but not consistently.

It will be interesting next year when the cupboard looks relatively bare (assuming the twins go pro). We'll lose our four most important players without any stud recruits (as of right now). If they can pull another rabbit out of their hat and continue to challenge for titles that will prove that Self is the best coach in the nation (again) more so than winning a title.

Think it's a great testament to your overwhelming jealousy that while dissing & whining about KUBB, you are online for 2 hrs yesterday completely absorbed in your masochistic misery. Misery? Who dat? Oh, they swallowed yesterday! LOL!

The Big East is well balanced league, but that doesn't mean it's more talented. It gets a tremendous amount of media coverage because of the large population base, more readers/viewers but I'll be surprised if any Big East teams make the final four. I think KU would dominate in that conference.

This guy is a KSU fan. I've seen him posting all over another website I read KU articles.

It's always been funny to me. KU fans (for the most part) have never really thought one thing or another about KSU. Most KSU fans I've met in my lifetime are really nice people. But there is always a few with severe issues going on. Where they list every bad thing they see in their mind as to why we aren't good.

All I have to say is fine.

That's who they think we are. Fine.

Now go root for your school.

But every single KU article this KSU fan writes to anyone who will listen all of the KU transgressions over the last 20 years.

And the KU fans for the most part just let him.

It's kind of like having a mosquito on your arm.

If he thinks we're a terrible institution because Aqib Talib failed a drug test & had to burn his hands off for punishment, so be it.

He keeps denying he roots for KSU. This is the same Cat whose goal in life is to rip apart ku on multiple websites. It's definitely him, no doubt about it. He's a KSUer. Don't let him give KSU a bad name though, most of 'em are good people, just like the Iowa State fanbase.

Your avatar is Ali Farakmanesh on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Can you not feel how sad and pathetic it is to revolve your life around trolling for reactions from KU fans and sports writers? I feel really bad for you, 12steps. I honestly do. I truly hope you can awaken before you blow your time on this earth with something so pointless and negative. It's a beautiful world out there. You will deeply regret this path you are taking if you don't change.

He voted Ohio State number 1 last week. I don't imagine he will change that this week. OSU is number two in the AP (receiving 10 first place votes), so I'm fairly confident they will become number 1 in that poll (assuming they don't lay an egg versus a bad Indiana team). The ESPN coaches poll is the bigger question. Will there be two different number 1's between the two polls? OSU did receive more #1 votes than us (4 to 1) even though they landed at number 3.

This year has been one crazy parity-filled ride. And madness hasn't even started yet.....

Almost mindblowing, this everchanging lineup of Jayhawks standing at verge of a 7th consecutive league title.
Self and staff: yes, the constant presence. Marcus and Keegan offered the clear call.
Bill Self amazes in his capacity to surround himself with winning people. In a different venue he might have excelled at the game of chess.

You'd have to think that Self is as worthy of national coach of the year as any coach who ends up winning it. I really enjoyed this article, Tom. (And you didn't mention the on-the-court-scuffling that our boys have weened from their game).

After watching KU demolish OU in the first half, I asked my son, "How much longer can this continue?" Really. How much longer? KU fans aren't spoiled, just very, very fortunate. We've had three fantastic coaches in the past almost 30 years now. .925 winning percentage in the past two years? We're 4-0 against the Pac10 this year, and whatever and 0 versus every conference outside the Big XII.

I came to ask for someone in the know to give me the brief on our next recruiting classes, and to see if there's any chance that the NBA won't lock out next fall. Thank you, and I'll listen off the air.

Very well said, Tom, and thanks for putting this out there for all KU fans to embrace. What HCBS and his coaches have done is totally unprecedented in this era of parity. None of the "elite" coaches...not Ben Howland, Coach K, Jim Calhoun, Jim Boeheim, Tom Izzo (this year), and, even Roy, have consistently maintained the highest level of excellence year to year with a constanty rotating cast of characters. It's so true...at KU with our outstanding coaching staff, we don't rebuild, we reload!

I am not a natural KU hoops fan. I do follow coaches, and Self maybe the best ever. I grew up with Al McGuire as a local favorite and UCLA teaching the world a new style of basketball. Self is at least in the same small car with the best.

Self is up there, but Wooden,Coach K, Smith, Sutton, Rupp, McGuire and Knight, are probably at the top of the list. Self, Izzo, Calhoun, Boeheim, Pitino and Williams are probably the best of the current coaches but need a few more years to reach that upper echelon. Then there's a good group at their heels including Donovan and Calipari and a dozen more. It's a great discussion and probably includes a lot more coaches then I've listed.

Gotta hope that Self and staff stay with the Jayhawk program for as long as possible.
Come on, Tyshawn. Make the most of the best learning/playing situation available to you in this, your remaining time in a Kansas uniform. Life as a hoopster will never be much better for you than these years in Lawrence. Just ask Julian, Sherron, Aaron, Keith...a host of Jayhawk heros whose playing time hit the pinnacle here in the Kansas program, playing in AFH. You've still time to resurrect your career to help lead the Jayhawks to memorable national prominence.

Self and Staff are the best in the country, which means world, at getting these guys to play. Think about 08 and how much talent there was. Yet, they played as a team. Same today. Coach Self is a genius. He contines to get players to buy in to the system. Lets just hope Selby stays around and puts his chips all in. He and the twins come back next year and we are just sick. Think about it. 60-5 in two years. Next year that becomes something like 95-8 in three years. There are many teams that take a decade or more to get that many wins. ROCK CHALK!

"60-5 the last 2 seasons! That's just ridiculous!!! And we cant get national respect...whatever!"

Ralster, your point is well taken. And there's no doubt that East Coast bias will always play a part. But I think if Self wins another title this year -- and especially if he can win one more after that at some point, the level of respect we get will increase significantly. The fact remains that as great as Self has been in his time at KU, he's only gotten us to one Final Four. That's not to denigrate the incredible amount that he's accomplished, but for us to get the respect from the national media that we all want, we have to come through when it counts the most, in the tournament.

First off welcome back Oak! We all recognize this clown has absolutely nothing in his life to identify with in a positive manner. If he did, he would. Most psychopathic behaviour patterns are quite similar. If you look at his patterns he spends hours & hours jumping around talking anonymous smack.That said we likely fuel his negative self concept with our comments-good or bad regardless. Maybe is a stalker of some sort, internet or otherwise. Definitely not wrapped too tight or as my folks used to say, "nutty as a peach-orchard borer." It's obvious from incredibly ignorant comments like "good looking guy Dooley" there's nobody home or could even be flaming gay sombrero. I say just ignore & it will should fester away.Hopefully it never manifests into the acting out stage. The Diceman would say "givem' a 25% discount on Vaseli... & tell em to get back in the freaking close..."